U Wirathu, the spiritual leader of the Buddhist nationalist 969 Movement prepares to get into a vehicle outside the New Maesoeyin Monastery in Mandalay. U Wirathu is an abbot in the New Maesoeyin Monastery where he leads about 60 monks and has influence over more than 2,500 residing there. He travels the country giving sermons to religious and laypeople encouraging Buddhists to shun Muslim business and communities. /Felix Features